Separable bracelet linkage with means for preventing accidental separation



Oct. 9, 1956 N c BURKHARDT ETAL 2,765,615

SEPARABLE 'BRA'CELET LINKAGE WITH MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL SEPARATION Filed Oct. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4rraeA/e/g 9, 1956 N. c. BURKHARDT ETAL 2,765,615

SEPARABLE BRACELET LINKAGE WITH MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL SEPARATION Filed Oct. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS DAV/p 1. \7F1caBaw/rz M2444 C- u/ek/mwor QWW WW4 irraelvsr 0d. 9, 1956 N. c. BURKHARDT ET L 2,765,615

SEPARABLE BRACELET LINKAGE WITH MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL SEPARATION Filed Oct. 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TORS DAV/D Z (7 7C050 141/72 Mae/r1410 C. Bum (swear United States Patent SEPARABLE BRACELET LINKAGE WITH MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL SEPARATION Norman C. Burkhardt, Brookville, and David L. Jacobowitz, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors t0 Jacoby-Bender, Inc., Woodside, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 4, 1954, Serial No. 459,938

8 Claims. (Cl. 59--79) The present invention relates to a structure by means of which the links of resiliently expandible bracelet linkages may readily be detached from one another.

To the retail jeweler the inventory problem is quite critical. Not only does his inventory represent a substantial investment, but the space in which to store the inventory is usually at a premium. The problem is particularly critical with respect to items Which must be carried in various sizes. Resiliently expandible Watch bracelets are in that category. Each manufacturer produces a substantial number of different bracelet styles in order to appeal to as many prospective purchasers as possible. If the retail jeweler is to make a sale he must therefore carry a number of different bracelet styles. His problem is greatly complicated by the fact that the bracelet must fit the wrist of the prospective user, and each wrist may be of a different size. Consequently each syle of bracelet is customarily sold in four lengths, short, regular, long and extra long. Hence a jeweler must not only carry a large number of difierent styles of bracelets but must carry each style in four different sizes in order to be sure that he will be able to furnish a prospective purchaser with the item which he desires.

It is therefore quite desirable that bracket linkages be constructed so that individual links or groups of links can be removed therefrom or attached thereto by the jeweler himself. Under these circumstances the jewelers inventory problem is greatly simplified. He need only carry each bracelet style in a single size, and he can then fit that bracelet to the wrist of the prospective user at the time of sale. However, as is well known, wrist watch bracelets are subjected to considerable abuse by their wearers. The bracelet, when it leaves the jeweler, must therefore have its links fastened to one another sufficiently securely as to withstand that abuse without coming apart.

Thus the requirements for a bracelet linkage of the type under discussion appear to be antithetical. The links must be separable readily enough so that the jeweler can fit the bracelet to the purchaser, but the connection between the links must be sufiiciently secure so that the links, when assembled by the jeweler, will remain thus assembled. The present invention solves the thus presented dilemma.

In MacIntosh Patent 2,249,086 a linkage is disclosed by means of which separability of the links of a bracelet is achieved. The free ends of one set of links are provided with headed studs and thefree ends of the other set of links are provided with suitably shaped slots into which those headed studs are receivable, the heads of the studs passing through the wide portions of the slots but not being able. to pass through the narrow portions of the slots. The wide portions of the slots are so positioned that the heads of the studs will not normally come into registration therewith unless the bracelet is distorted (expanded) to a degree beyond that to which it would normally be subjected in use.

While the linkage disclosed in the MacIntosh patent 2,765,615 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 2 provides for satisfactory separability of the brackelet links and also provides a reasonable degree of security of at tachment between the links during normal use, it has nevertheless been found that all too frequently linkages embodying the MacIntosh arrangement will tend to come apart during normal use, particularly when the bracelet is being removed from or placed upon the wrist by being expanded so as to slip over the wearers hand. The pres ent invention represents an improvement over the arranges ment shown in the MacIntosh patent by means of which the security of attachment of the links is greatly enhanced, but without materially restricting the jeweler in adjusting the bracelet length by removing or inserting links. According to the present invention two separate modifications are taught, each of which adds its own degree of security, the two modifications together making it virtually impossible for the bracelet to separate accidentally.

In our improved linkage the end of the slot remote from the wide portion thereof is disposed substantially at right angles to the body of that slot. The headed studs, when the bracelet is in use, will be in those slot ends. When the bracelet is expanded in normal use the interconnected links will be pulled away from one another and hence the studs will remain in those end portions of the slots and will not tend to travel along the slots toward the wide portions thereof. It is only when the bracelet is expanded and then, while retained in expanded position, is pushed together longitudinally that the studs can reach the wide slot portions and become detached from the slotted links. Clearly this type of manipulation would not normally occur, but it can very readily be accomplished by the jeweler.

As an independent but cumulative safety feature, the headed studs are so positioned on their links and the wide portions of the slots are so positioned on their links that.

even when the bracelet is expanded and the studs are moved toward the wide slot portions, the links to which the studs are fastened will engage with adjacent links before the stud heads are in registration with the wide slot portions. As a result the studs will not separate from the slots unless special operations are performed. The studs are made somewhat longer than necessary in order to interconnect adjacent link ends, and consequently the links to which the studs are attached have a limited degree of play in a vertical direction, that is to say, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bracelet. This play is suflicient so that the links to which the studs are attached may be lifted above the adjacent links which they would normally engage, either directly or by being tilted with respect to the latter links, and in that way the stud heads can be Withdrawn through the wide slot portions. The likelihood of this occurring accidentally is extremely remote, but with only the most minimal amount of practice a jeweler can learn to perform the necessary attaching and detaching operation.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a structure by means of which the links of an expansible bracelet may readily be attached or detached upon appropriate manipulation, all as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a bracelet of the present invention, that bracelet being shown in contracted condition;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the bracelet shown in expanded condition;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with two pairs of links removed;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the removed pair of links shown in contracted condition;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the pair of links of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the bracelet of Fig. 2 showing the position which adjacent links take at the time of separation;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the upper link of Fig. 7 (the bracelet bottom link) taken along the line 9-9 thereof;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of the lower link of Fig. 8 (the bracelot top link) taken along the line 10-10 thereof;

' Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating another specific embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the bracelet links in the position which they assume preparatory to separation, with adjacent bottom links engaging so as to prevent registration of the stud head with the enlarged slot portion;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 13-'13 of Fig.12;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the manner in which the two bracelet sections are tilted in order to permit separation from one to the other;

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of the links of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the links of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the two bracelet sections separated.

The bracelet links with respect to which the instant invention is here specifically disclosed are of the so-called lazy-tongs type. The bracelet comprises a plurality of top links2 and a plurality of bottom links 4. The top links 2'comprise a base plate 6 to which an ornamental shell 8 is' secured, while the bottom links 4 comprise a base plate 10 to which a cover shell 12 is secured. Each top link2 is pivotally secured at its center to the center of a bottom link 4 by means of an eyelet 14 which passes through the base plates 6 and 10 of the top and bottom links respectively, and a spring 16 extends through the eyelet 14 and has arms 18 which engage with the interior of the links 2 and 4 so as to tend to cause them to pivot with respect to one another into a substantially parallel relationship. The ends of each of the top links 2 are pivot-ally secured to underlying ends of bottom links 4, the conventional mode of securement being by means of a rivet or an eyelet 19 which permanently connects the links." The ends of the bracelet are provided with any appropriate means of attachment either to opposite ends or to a wrist watch, one conventional type of end attachment being shown in Fig. 1 and designated 20.

The present invention provides for detachability of adjacent pairs of top and bottom links 2 and 4 by securing studs 22 having enlarged heads 24 to the ends of the base plate 10 of the bottom links 4, and forming the corresponding ends of the base plates 6 of the top links 2 with slots 26 which extend generally longitudinally over the top links'2 and whose inner ends are provided with enlarged portions 28. The enlarged portions 28 are of a size such that the heads 24 of the studs 22 can freely pass therethrough, whereas the bodies of the slots 26 are smaller than the stud heads 24 but larger than the studs 22 themselves, so that the studs can slide therealong. So long as the stud heads 24 are not in registration with the enlarged slot portions 28 the studs 22 cannot escape from the slots 26.

As is clearly shown particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 10, the slots 26, at a point close to the end of the top link 2, are each provided with a portion 30 which extends substantially at right angles to its body and hence substantially parallel to the width of the top link 2 associated therewith. The length of this slot portion 30 is preferably greater than half the thickness of the stud 22, and as shown in the embodiment of Figs. ll0, is considerably longer than the total width of the stud 22.

It will be noted that not all of the links of the bracelet specifically disclosed are provided with this arrangement.

From a practical point of view the range of size adjustment to which a commercial bracelet need be subjected may be represented by five pairs of links. Accordingly, the bracelet here disclosed is formed of five sections designated a, b, c, d and e. Section 0 comprises a single pair of permanently connected links, sections b and d comprise two pairs of permanently connected links and sections a and e comprise a plurality of permanently connected pairs of links to makeup the main portion of the bracelet. Each of the sections a to e is separable from the section adjacent thereto by means of the structure above described. 'In Figs. 26 the separation of section b from the bracelet is disclosed, thereby making the bracelet shorter by two links. If section c had been removed the bracelet would have been shorter only by one link. By suitable combinations of removal of various sections b, c and d the bracelet may be made shorter by one, two, three, four or five links as desired.

When the sections are connected, as shown in Fig. 2, the studs 22 will be in the ends of the slots 26 remote from the enlarged portions 28 thereof. Consequently, the various sections will remain pivotally secured to one another. When the bracelet is expanded, as shown in Fig. 2, the tension on that bracelet will pull the studs 22 into the end portions 30 of the slots 26 if they are not already in those portions, and consequently the studs 22 cannot move along the slot bodies 26 toward the enlarged portions 28 thereof. Since under normal conditions the bracelet will expand only when it is thus tensioned, it will be appreciated that mere expansion of the bracelet will therefore not tend to cause adjacent links to separate. If it were not for the lateral slot extensions 30, however, expansion of the bracelet might tend to cause the studs 22 to slide along the slots 26 until their heads 24 were in registration with the enlarged slot portions 28, at which time it would be a simple matter for the stud heads 24 to escape from the slots 26, thus leading to separation of the linkage.

However, if removal of one of the linkage sections b, c or d is desired, that can very easily be effected by expanding the bracelet, retaining the bracelet in expanded condition as by pressing ones fingers together along the sides of the bracelet adjacent to the point where separation is to take place, and then moving toward one another the bracelet sections to be separated. This will cause the studs 22 to move out from the lateral slot extensions 30 into the slot bodies 26. It is then a simple matter to further expand the bracelet or otherwise to bring the individual stud heads 24 into registration with their corresponding enlarged slot portions 28, as shown in Fig. 6.

To remove a given bracelet section it is separated from adjacent sections at both ends thereof. Thus, to remove section b it is first separated from section a and then from section c, leaving the bracelet as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter sections a and c are reconnected by reversing the procedure described above for separation. The resulting bracelet will be shorter than the bracelet of Fig. 1 by the width of two sets of links.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. '1 1-17 the slots 26 in the top links 2 have laterally extending end portions 30 which are, however, somewhat shorter than the portions 30 in the embodiments of Figs. 1-10. The slot portions 30 are, however, of a length equal to at least half the thickness of the studs 22, so that a definite safety feature ensues by reason thereof.

It will be noted that in the embodiment of Figs. 11-17 the enlarged slot portions 28 in a given top link 2 are positioned quite close to the central pivotal connection 14 between that top link and the bottom link 4 permanently pivotally attached thereto. This location, in conjunction with the positioning of the stud 22 on the bottom link 4 cooperable therewith, gives rise to the bottom link interference or interengagement shown in Figs. 12 and 13. As will be clearly apparent from those figures, when the studs 22 are disengaged from the lateral slot portions and are moved along the slot body 26 toward the-enlarged slot portion 28, the side of the bottom 4 to which the stud 22 is secured will engage the side of the adjacent bottom link 4a centrally permanently pivotally secured to the top link 2 carrying the slot 26, this bottom link engagement occurring before the stud head 24 has come completely into registration with the enlarged slot portion 28. As a result the bottom link 4 and top link 2 cannot become separated.

However, as will again be apparent particularly by comparing Figs. 13 and 14, the stud 22 has a length such that an appreciable degree of play is provided between the bottom link 4 and the top link 2 connected thereto by the stud-slot arrangement, that play being in a vertical direction, a direction perpendicular to the plane of the bracelet itself. That play is suificient so that the studcarrying bottom link 4 can slide over or around the adjacent-bottom link 4a in order to permit the stud head 24 to escape from the enlarged slot portion 28. As specifically disclosed, the bottom link 4 (and the links permanently connected thereto) are tilted with respect to the top link 2 (land the links permanently connected thereto), thus bringing the stud head 24 into registration with the enlarged slot portion 28 and permitting that st-ud head 24 to escape from the enlarged slot portion 28. As specifically dis-closed, the bottom link 4 (and the links perm-anently connected thereto) are tilted with respect to the top link 2 (and the links permanently connected thereto), thus bringing the stud head 24 into registration with the enlarged slot portion 28 and permitting that stud head 24 to escape therethrough, the stud-carrying top link 4 rising above and sliding over the adjacent bottom link 4a. When the bracelet sections :are tilted relative to one another in the manner shown in Fig. 15, that is to say, about an axis in the plane of the bracelet and substantially perpendicular to its length, the studs on the firee ends of each of the bottom links 4 and 4a can simul taneously be separated from the slots in the top links 2 respectively associated therewith. Thus an exceptionallyhigh degree of security of attachment is provided between adjacent bracelet sections, making it practically impossible that its sections can accidentally become detached from one another. However, to one who knows the technique it is but an instants work to detach adjacent bracelet sections and to remove or insert pairs of links in order to make the bracelet size adjustable.

While but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention have been here specifically disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made in the details thereof, all without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an expansible bracelet linkage comprising top and bottom links pivotally connected to one another at their ends and detachable from one another, each of said top and bottom links being a part of a bracelet section, said bracelet sections extending away from one another when said links are connected to one another; the improvement which comprises a headed stud projecting vertically from the end of a bottom link, the corresponding end of a top link having a slot extending generally lengthwise thereof, said slot having an enlarged portion remote from the link end through which the head of said stud can pass, the remainder of said slot being of a size such that said stud can slide therein but the head of said stud cannot pass therethrough, the end of said slot adjacent to the end of said link extending substantially at right angles to the length of said link away from the bracelet section of which said link is a part for a distance equal to at least half of the diameter of said stud.

2. The linkage of claim 1, in which said top and bottom links are permanently pivotally connected together at their centers, the enlarged slot portions of said top links extend close to said center pivotal connection, said headed studs on said bottom links are so positioned thereon that when a stud is moved toward said enlarged slot portion said bottom link engages the adjacent bottom prior to complete registration of said stud head with said enlarged slot portion, thereby inhibiting accidental separation of said stud from said slot, said stud having a length suifi-cient to permit the bottom link to which it is attached a limited degree of vertical play relative to the slotted top link to which it is connected by said stud, said vertical play being suflicient to permit said bottom link to slide over the adjacent bottom link engaged thereby, thus permitting said stud to completely enter said enlarged slot portion and disengage from said slot.

3. The linkage of claim 1, in which said top and bottom links are permanently pivotally connected together at their centers, the enlarged slot portions of said top links extending close to said center pivotal connection, said headed studs on said bottom links are so positioned thereon that when a stud is moved toward said enlarged slot portion said bot-tom link engages the adjacent bottom link prior to complete registration of said stud head with said enlarged slot portion, thereby inhibiting acci-' dental separation of said stud from said slot, said stud having a length sufii-cient to permit the bottom link to which it is attached a limited degree of vertical play relat-ive to the slotted top link to which it is connected by said st-ud, said vertical play being sufficient to permit said bottom link to tilt with respect to said slotted top link, thus permitting said stud to completely enter said enlarged slot portion and disengage from said slot.

4. In an expansible bracelet linkage comprising top and bottom links pivotally connected to one another at their ends and detachable from one another; the improvement which comprises a headed stud projecting vertically from the end of a bottom link, the corresponding end of a top link having a slot therein on the surface thereof facing said top link, said slot having an enlarged portion remote from the link end through which the head of said stud can pass, the remainder of said slot being of a size such that said stud can slide therein but the head of said stud cannot pass thereth-rough, said top and bottom links being permanently pivotally connected together at their centers, the enlarged slot portions of said top link extending close to said center pivotal connection, said headed stud on said bottom link being so positioned thereon that when said stud is moved toward said enlarged slot portion said bottom link engages the adjacent bottom link prior to complete registration of said stud head with said enlarged slot portion, thereby inhibiting accidental separation of said stud from said slot, said stud having a length suflicient to permit the bottom link to which it is attached a limited degree of vertical play relative to the slotted top link to which it is connected by said stud, said vertical play being sufficient to permit said bottom link to slide over the adjacent bottom link engaged thereby, thus permitting said stud to completely enter said enlarged slot portion and disengage from said slot.

5. In an expansible bracelet linkage comprising top and bottom links pivotally connected to one another at their ends and detachable from one another; the improvement which comprises a headed stud projecting vertically from the end of a bottom link, the corresponding end of a top link having a slot on the surface thereof facing said top link, said slot having an enlarged portion remote from the link end through which the head of said stud can pass, the remainder of said slot being of a size such that said stud can slide therein but the head of said stud can not pass therethrough, said top and bottom links being permanently pivotally connected together at their centers, the enlarged slot portion of said top link extending close to said center pivotal connection, said headed stud on said bottom link being so positioned thereon that when a stud is moved toward said enlarged slot portion said bottom link engages the adjacent bottom link prior to complete registration of said stud head with said enlarged slot por tion, thereby inhibiting accidental separation of said stud from said slot, said stud having a length suflicient to permit the bottom link to which it is attached a limited de gree of vertical play relative to the slotted top link to which it is connected by said stud, said vertical play being sufiicient to permit said bottom link to tilt with respect to said slotted top link, thus permitting said stud to completely enter said enlarged slot portion and disengage from said slot.

6. An expansible bracelet linkage comprising two separable sets of top and bottom links, the links of each set being pivotally connected to one another at their ends and at their centers and each set having a free top link end and a free bottom link end, said free bottom link ends each having a headed stud projecting vertically therefrom, said free top link ends each having a slot on the surface thereof facing the top link to be connected thereto and extending from a point adjacent the central pivotal connection of said top link to its corresponding bottom link, said slot being of a size such that the body of said stud is freely passagle therethrough, only that portion of said slot adjacent said central pivotal connection being enlarged to a size such that said stud head is passable therethrough, said bottom links having a width such that when said stud is in said slot and moved toward said enlarged slot portion said top link engages the adjacent bottom link before said stud head is in complete registration with said enlarged slot portion, thereby inhibiting separation of said stud from said slot, said stud having a length such that the bottom link to which it is secured may be moved vertically relative to said slotted top link to which it is attached by said stud a distance sufficient to permit said bottom link to slide over the adjacent bottom link, thus permitting said stud to pass through said enlarged slot portion and disengage from said slot.

7. An expansible bracelet linkage comprising two separable sets of top and bottom links, the links of each set being pivotally connected to one another at their ends and at their centers and each set having a free top link end and a free bottom link end, said free bottom link ends It each having a headed stud projecting vertically therefrom, said free top link ends each having a slot on the surface thereof facing the bottom link to be connected thereto and extending from a point adjacent the central pivotal connection of said top link to its corresponding bottom link, said slot being of a size such that the body of said stud is freely passable therethrough, only that portion of said slot adjacent said central pivotal connection being enlarged to a size such that said stud head is passable when said stud is in said slot and moved toward said enlarged slot portion said bottom link engages the adjacent bottom link before said stud head is in completeregistration with said enlarged slot portion, thereby inhibiting separation of said stud from said slot, said stud having a length such that the bottom link to which it is secured may be moved vertically relative to said slotted top link to which it is attached by said stud a distance sufficient to permit said bottom link to tilt with respect to said slotted bottom link, thereby permitting said stud head to escape from said slot via the enlarged portion thereof.

8. An expansible bracelet linkage comprising two separable sets of top and bottom links, the links of each set being pivotally connected to one another at their ends and at their centers and each set having afree top link end and a free bottom link end, said free bottom link ends each having a headed stud projecting vertically therefrom, said free top link ends each having a slot on the surface thereof facing the bottom link to be connected thereto and extending from a point adjacent the central pivotal connection of said top link to its corresponding bottom link, said slot being of a size such that the body of said stud is freely passable therethrough, only that portion of said slot adjacent said central pivotal connection being enlarged to a size such that said stud head is passable therethrough, said bottom links having a width such that when said stud is in said slot and moved toward said enlarged slot portion adjacent side edges of adjacent bottom links engage before said stud head is in complete registration with said enlarged slot portion, thereby inhibiting separation of said stud from said slot, said stud having a length such that the bottom link to which it is secured may be moved vertically relative to said slotted top link a distance suflicient to permit said bottom link to tilt with respect to said slotted top link therethrough, said bottom links having a Width such that W until its side edge can slide over said adjacent side edge of said adjacent bottom link, thereby permitting said st ud head to escape from said slot via the enlarged portion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 325,221 Wright Aug. 25, 1885 820,452 Waller May 15, 1906 2,225,746 Kestenman Dec. 24, 1940 2,249,086 MacIntosh July 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,065,023 Germany May 19, 1954 

